Best scope for an Encore if you had the money.

[Daveinthebush]

OK so I am going to buy an Encore.  My main game will be deer, mountain goats and Dall Sheep.

What scope would you buy for shots to 300 yards?

[SD Handgunner]

For me that would be an easy choice, 2x7x32mm Burris LER Handgun Scope. I have always had excellent results with Burris Handgun Scopes. The 2x7x Burris has the largest field of view on 2x as any Variable Handgun Scope on the market. Lastly it's size and weight are enough less than the Burris 3x12x that I prefer the 2x7x Burris on a Hunting Handgun.

Larry

[mkee]

I would agree w/ SD Handgunner Burris makes an excellent scope.  I put a 3-12 on my 223 and love it.  I like it better than the Leupold VariX on my 358 JDJ.  However, for a heavy recoiling round, and the 7-08 will be in a pistol, the 2-7 would be much better.

[xphunter]

I would agree with SD if you are only talking 300 yards.  
I would want the BP reticle too.  As far as the 3-12 not being suited to cartridges in the 308 class and above I would disagree.  I have or have had 3-12's on a 260 Rem, 6.5x57Rimmed, 6mm-284, two 6.5-284's, 284 Winchester, and a 7.82 Patriot (tad bigger than a 300WSM).  I have not had a problem with any of these scopes and have put quite a few rounds through some of these specialty handguns.

[xphunter]

Dave,
What cartridge(s) are you considering?

[Redhawk1]

Dave,
What cartridge(s) are you considering?

I was wondering the same thing.  

[Daveinthebush]

I was orignally thinking .308 but after comparing ballistics with 140 and -150 grain bullets, the 7MM/08 seems the way to go.  [/b]

[xphunter]

I would personally prefer the 7mm-08 myself, over the 308.  
Just to throw a little more confusion into the mix, I would also encourage you to consider the 260 Remington.
My daughter shot a bull elk @ 75 yards and a small buck at 250 yards with a 14 inch 260 Rem. last year.  She has also taken two does with it in the last two years (80 yards & 170 yards).

[flyfisher]

I like both the Leupold and Burris scopes, when money is not a problem.  I have a 3-12 Burris on a .222 Rem. barrel for groundhogs.  For big game at the ranges that you mentioned, I think that my top 2 choices would be a 2-7 Burris or a variable powered Leupold of similar power.  I hear that the higher quality/more expensive Bushnell scopes are good as well, but I have no experience with them.

[Redhawk1]

I am a true Leupold fan, but for handguns, I like the Bushnell's  

[rickyp]

I am surprised no one said anything about the T/C 2.5-7 lighted.
I have 3 of the T/C scopes and I find them as good as my leupolds

[Daveinthebush]

It looks like I will try the Burris 2x7 Nickel with posi loc system.

I have heard that Burris has improved greatly in the realiability of their products.  All of my rifles and handguns currently have Leupold but I am willing to change even at my old age.  :roll:

[xphunter]

Dave,
If i was you, I wouldn't spend the extra money for the posi-loc.  I have one on my Patriot XP and I never use it and I have never lost my zero to date.  I got the feature because I thought I would need it since I push a 150 NBT @ 3001 fps or a 180 SGK @ 2775 fps.  I just leave mine turned off all of the time.  I would spend money and get the BP reticle or get a target knob put on the elevation and set it up with a custom Kenton Industries Knob to where you can simply run the clicks (50 yard increments).
But I am happy you are going to get a Burris LER scope :grin:

[Daveinthebush]

I will probably stay with the posi-loc as I am going to be backpacking the rig up 3,500 mountains and through the rain forest to hunt goats and sheep.  Won't bother with the knobs.  Smaller, lighter and simpler is better!  I will use a trajectory program to find the best maximum +/- 4" range that I can.  I then print out the trajectory in a word processing program and tape the other needed drop allowances to the back of the scope.  Just a simple look and you have the holdover.

On the last hunt I took the cardboard out of the center of the toilet paper to save pack weight.  On a goat/sheep hunt anything you can do ( like loose 20 pounds) to reduce weight is better.  I even took the MRE's out of the boxes and wrappers.  My tent weighs 2.6 pounds.

Appreciate the advise though.

[xphunter]

Sounds like the way we hunt elk every year in SW Colorado-Always with a specialty handgun.  I have never run clicks until recently, and always used the Ballistic Plex Reticle or the way you mentioned before the BP was made.  We also use MRE's but we don't carry all the excess wrappers either.  We don't even have a fire or carry the warmers for that matter.
We do a lot of spot-n-stalk hunting--our preferred style.  We will carry a XP, Striker, H-S Precision or MOA for field use.  We (Steve Hugel) and I work as a spotter/shooter unit, which helps alot in field and increases the safety factor.  We have carried a 7-08 or 260 Rem in the field, but now or smallest cartridge since elk is a factor besides mulies is a 284 Win class parent cartridge or above.